Tarzan And The Golden Lion(1927) Action-packed silent Tarzan film stars James Pierce (who originated the role on radio) as the loincloth-clad hero. After searching for a legendary city of diamonds, the jungle-dwelling hero and his pet lion help rescue a beautiful maiden from worshippers seeking to sacrifice her in order to please their god. With Frederick Murphy, Edna Murphy, Harold Goodwin, and Boris Karloff. 59 min. Standard; Soundtrack: music score. Plays All Regions. Silent with music score.Category: Silents Director: J. P. McGowanCast: Jad-Bal-Ja , Robert Bolder, D'Arcy Corrigan, Dorothy Dunbar, Harold Goodwin, Boris Karloff, Edna Murphy, Frederic Peters, James Pierce, Liu Yu-Ching
Despite the success of the 1921 serial, The Adventures of Tarzan, starring Elmo Lincoln there were no film projects until 1926 when FBO Studios (Joseph Kennedy's company which later joined with RCA to form RKO Radio Pictures) bought the film rights to Tarzan and the Golden Lion. Burroughs had much more say in the choice of actor to play Tarzan in this film. During a party at Tarzana Ranch ERB was impressed by one of the guests who fit the mental image of his fictional jungle man. Pierce was a former All-American football player from Indiana who had come to Hollywood to work as a football coach at Glendale High School. His giant physique and chiselled good looks got him numerous roles in Hollywood films. ERB insisted that he try out for the role of Tarzan, even though it meant giving up a major part in the upcoming film, Wings -- a part that eventually went to Gary Cooper.
Filming began in September 1926 and finished in December 1926. Under ERB's supervision the script followed the original novel quite closely. Jane was played by Dorothy Dunbar and the part of a native was played by an obscure English actor called Boris Karloff. The film was a hit at the box office despite the lukewarm reviews by critics. Mainly because of the poor critical reception, FBO did not exercise their option to produce a sequel. Burroughs then signed a deal with rival Universal who produced two Tarzan movies starring Frank Merrill -- the last of the silent Tarzan films. Jim Pierce never played Tarzan again on film, although he married Burroughs daughter, Joan, and they starred as Tarzan and Jane in the 1932 radio serial.
Filming began in September 1926 and finished in December 1926. Under ERB's supervision the script followed the original novel quite closely. Jane was played by Dorothy Dunbar and the part of a native was played by an obscure English actor called Boris Karloff. The film was a hit at the box office despite the lukewarm reviews by critics. Mainly because of the poor critical reception, FBO did not exercise their option to produce a sequel. Burroughs then signed a deal with rival Universal who produced two Tarzan movies starring Frank Merrill -- the last of the silent Tarzan films. Jim Pierce never played Tarzan again on film, although he married Burroughs daughter, Joan, and they starred as Tarzan and Jane in the 1932 radio serial.
STORY SUMMARY
Lord Greystoke (James Pierce), known as Tarzan to the natives of Africa among whom he lived, expects his wife (Dorothy Dunbar) and her niece (Edna Murphy) with the young overseer (Harold Goodwin) of his estate. A renegade White (villain played by Frederic Peters) meets the travellers and plans to attack them. But the timely arrival of the hero with his native army rescues them. A stranger in rags (D'Arcy Corrigan) comes to the hero and informs him that he had escaped from the diamond city of a race of people little known. He tells the hero of a fabulous wealth in diamonds hidden within the Diamond palace of this tribe. The villain overhears him and during the hero's absence he abducts him and the young heroine. The villain forces the stranger to lead him to the city of diamonds. When the hero returns and hears of the abduction he takes his faithful lion along and rushes to their rescue, instructing his lieutenants to follow him wit his army of natives. Eventually he reaches the city of diamonds in time to rescue the heroine from being offered as a sacrifice to a lion, which the natives worshipped as their God. The hero kills their lion, and his lion kills the villain. The natives declare the hero as their High Priest, to reign in the city of diamonds. The young heroine marries the overseer of his estate.
From Harrison's Reports, March 12, 1927 See Actual Screen Captions Below
Lord Greystoke (James Pierce), known as Tarzan to the natives of Africa among whom he lived, expects his wife (Dorothy Dunbar) and her niece (Edna Murphy) with the young overseer (Harold Goodwin) of his estate. A renegade White (villain played by Frederic Peters) meets the travellers and plans to attack them. But the timely arrival of the hero with his native army rescues them. A stranger in rags (D'Arcy Corrigan) comes to the hero and informs him that he had escaped from the diamond city of a race of people little known. He tells the hero of a fabulous wealth in diamonds hidden within the Diamond palace of this tribe. The villain overhears him and during the hero's absence he abducts him and the young heroine. The villain forces the stranger to lead him to the city of diamonds. When the hero returns and hears of the abduction he takes his faithful lion along and rushes to their rescue, instructing his lieutenants to follow him wit his army of natives. Eventually he reaches the city of diamonds in time to rescue the heroine from being offered as a sacrifice to a lion, which the natives worshipped as their God. The hero kills their lion, and his lion kills the villain. The natives declare the hero as their High Priest, to reign in the city of diamonds. The young heroine marries the overseer of his estate.
From Harrison's Reports, March 12, 1927 See Actual Screen Captions Below
